Valiant Comics was one of those great indy comic companies that started up in the 90s. It contained a few characters from the old Gold Key Comics, and some new creations. X-O Manowar was one of them.

This trade collects the first four issues of the first X-O Manowar series. Here we meet Aric, the Visigoth taken from the 4th century by spider-alien invaders wanting to study humans. The story opens as he finally makes his efforts to revenge himself on his jailers and free himself of their capture by getting a hold of a very special suit of armor, called x-o by the aliens, manowar class (hence the comic name).

Aric's origins are explained in this collection. We also see his earliest interactions with Solar (one of the Gold Key characters Valiant picked up) and the group of heroes known as the Harbingers.

I really enjoyed Valiant's early days, before Acclaim bought them out. They really had something going with their universe. This trade is proof of that. ( )

A saxon warrior from the dark ages is held by aliens who plot an invasion of Earth. He escapes with the help of an alien super-weapon (a semi-sentient suit of armour) to return to Earth in modern times. Sounds like a great premise, doesn't it? Pity its so boring.... ( )